Egg tray



S. PETERSON Jan. 26, 1965 EGG-TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17, 1963 FIG. 2

FIG. I

m FIG. 3

INVENTOR. Say/noun PETERSON A T TORNEYS S. PETERSON Jan. 26, 1965 EGG-TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1963 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

N o W s s Y m R m m A M Y EM 8 United States Patent 3,167,174 EGG TRAY Seymour Peterson, Dassel, Minn, assignor to Storm Industries, Inc., Dassel, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Sept. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 309,492 6 Claims. (Cl. 198-431) My invention relates generally to automated egg collection systems and more particularly to the endless conveyors utilized in such systems.

Still morespecifically, my invention relates to egg collection traymeans for use on upright flexible conveyor belts of the type disclosed in my copending application S.N. 278,627, filed May 7, 1963, and entitled Power Transmission Mechanism, and is in the nature of a division of my application filed of even date herewith and entitled Tray Means for Egg Conveyors. Of necessity, such egg collection tray means is comprised of a plurality of cooperating egg collection trays mounted in end-toend relation along the upper edge of said belt in order that they may receive eggs under gravity from the delivery end of an inclined floor forming part of or associated with a laying nest or area. Because of the weight borne by such belts when the egg trays thereon are loaded, periodic support mustbe imparted thereto, along their paths of travel.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of novel means whereby the separate egg collection trays are so formed and designed that when placed in an operative position, in end-to-end relationship, opposite side edges thereof, define substantially unbroken rails on opposite sides of the belt, the working undersurfaces of which are adapted to engage laterally spaced pairs of longitudinally spaced load-bearing roller elements.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a structure of the class immediately above described wherein by virtue of the material from which the trays are formed, and the mounting thereof on the upper edge of the belt, limited fiexation of the belt in a generally horizontal plane is permitted without interrupting the continuity of the rails.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in which rocking movements of each of the separate trays with respect to its adjacent tray is limited by virtue of a novel cooperative relation therebetween, thereby assuring that the rail elements of adjacent trays are maintained in substantial alignment at all times.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in top plan of an egg collection system incorporating my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1, parts thereof broken away and shown in section and on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in horizontal section as seen from the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, portions thereof being shown in plan;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section as seen from the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged View in vertical section as seen from the line 5-5 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 6 is a view in bottom plan of a single tray element utilized in connection with the egg conveyor system of FIG. 1.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates an endless conveyor belt of the generally upright type disclosed in my said copending ap- Patented Jan. 26, 1965 plication S.N. 278,627, and is preferably formed from stainless spring steel or the like to resist corrosion.

Adapted to be mounted on the upper edge portion 10a of the belt 11 in end-to-end relationship are plurality of egg tray elements, preferably formed or molded from such flexible resilient plastic material as polyethylene, and identified by the numeral 11. Each of the tray elements 11 comprises a generally rectangular frame-like base 12 having means in the nature of a bifurcated depending tongue 13 for securing same to the upper portion 10a of the belt 10, preferably by rivets or the like 13a. As shown, the tongues 13 depend from one end 14 of the base 12, centrally of the opposite sides thereof, so as to cause opposite end 15 to loosely overlie and engage the belt 19 with the longitudinal axis of the tray 11 substantially in alignment with the path of travel of said belt. For the purpose of limiting lateral movements of the end 15 of each tray element 11, the end portion 15 of the frame 12 is provided with a downwardly opening slot 16 in which the upper edge 10a is received.

It will be noted that the several tray elements 11 are secured on the belt 10 with the opposed end frame portions 14, 15 of adjacent trays in spaced relationship. Thus, the rail-forming opposite side portions 17 of the frame 12 are disposed on opposite sides of the belt 111 in longitudinally spaced relationship and in longitudinal alignment with each other. To provide: continuity between the rail elements 17 of the several trays 11, it will be noted that each of the bases 12 is formed to define laterally spaced feet 18 which extend longitudinally from opposite sides of end frame portions 15 of the frame 12. As shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 6, the projected ends of the feet 18 underlie the adjacent end portion 14 of the next succeeding tray element 11 and engage same within downwardly opening notches 19 formed therein. The notches 19 are of substantially the same depth as the feet 1% so as to provide a substantially planar under work in'g-surface for engagement with laterally spaced pairs of roller elements 20 which may be suitably spaced along the path of travel of the belt 10, only one such pair being shown. So as to minimize the gap between adjacent rail elements 17, the feet 18 are provided with arcuate outer surfaces 18a which cooperate with arcuate surfaces 19a in their cooperating notches 19, particularly during flexation of the belt 11) when passing around a guide wheel 21, such as may be used at a corner, identified by A in FIG. 1. In this regard, it is important to note that the connection between the tongues 13 of each of the trays 11 is such as to permit limited rocking movement about a vertical axis of each thereof with respect to the belt 10. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the void 22 defined by each of the frame-like bases 12 permits unrestricted lateral flexing of those portions of the belt 10 received in such voids. The fact that the trays 11 are formed from flexible material also is a factor in this regard.

A factor of importance in imparting stability to the tray means, indicated generally by 23, and made up of the successive and cooperating tray elements 11, is the engagement of the feet 18 of each tray with the upper surfaces 1% of cooperating notches 19.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while I have disclosed a preferred embodiment thereof, same may well be capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Egg collection trays for use on an upright flexible conveyor belt and adapted to be secured in end-to-end relationship along the upper edge thereof, each of said trays comprising:

(a) an elongated generally rectangular frame-like base,

(b) means associated with said base for securing same to the upper edge portion of such a belt with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially in alignment with the path of travel of such a belt,

(.0) opposite side portions of said base defining longitudinally spaced generally aligned rail elements on opposite sides of such a belt,

(d) each of said bases at one end being formed to define laterally spaced longitudinally extended feet which slidably underlie and engage the base of the adjacent tray and form a substantially unbroken undersurface between the rail elements thereof.

2. Egg collection trays for use on an upright flexible conveyor belt and adapted to be secured in end-to-end relationship along the upper edge thereof, each of said trays comprising:

(a) an elongated generally rectangular frame-like base,

(12) means adjacent one end of said base and centrally of opposite sides thereof for securing same to the upper edge portion of such a belt whereby the opposite end thereof overlies and engages such a belt with the longitudinal axis of said tray substantially in alignment with the path of travel of such a belt,

(c) opposite side portions of said base defining longitudinally spaced generally aligned rail elements on opposite sides of such a belt,

(d) each of said bases at their other end being formed to define laterally spaced longitudinally extended feet which slidably underlie and engage the base of the adjacent tray and form a substantially unbroken undersurface between the rail elements thereof.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said tray is formed from flexible resilient plastic material and in which the mounting thereof on such a belt is such as to permit limited flexing of such a belt in a generally horizontal plane, said feet being received in downwardly opening notches in the base of the adjacent tray for limited arcuate sliding movements occasioned by relative movements of adjacent trays during fiexation of such a belt.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which said feet and said notches have arcuate side surfaces which minimize the gap therebetween during said arcuate sliding movements.

5. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said other end of said tray loosely overlies such a belt and is provided with a downwardly opening notch in which the upper edge of such a belt is received, engagement of the feet associated with said other end of said tray limiting upward movement of said tray by engagement thereof with the notched base portions of the adjacent tray.

6. In an egg collection and conveying system, (1) an endless upright flexible resilient conveyor belt, (2) a plurality of egg collection trays secured in end-to-end relationship along the upper edge of said belt, said trays comprising:

(a) an elongated generally rectangular frame-like base which is longitudinally spaced from the base of an adjacent tray,

(b) means adjacent one end of each of said bases for securing said trays to the upper edge portion of said belt with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially in alignment with the path of travel of said belt,

(c) opposite side portions of said bases defining longitudinally spaced generally alignedrail elements on opposite sides of said belt, the work-engaging undersurfaces of which are substantially parallel to the adjacent upper edge or" said belt,

(d) each of said bases at their other ends beingformed to define longitudinally extended feet which slidably underlie and engage the base of the adjacent tray and form a substantially unbroken work surface between said rail elements, and

(6) longitudinally spaced pairs of laterally spaced roller elements along the path of travel of said belt and having rolling engagement with the rails defined by said rail elements and feet. 

1. EGG COLLECTION TRAYS FOR USE ON AN UPRIGHT FLEXIBLE CONVEYOR BELT AND ADAPTED TO BE SECURED IN END-TO-END RELATIONSHIP ALONG THE UPPER EDGE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID TRAYS COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME-LIKE BASE, (B) MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID BASE FOR SECURING SAME TO THE UPPER EDGE PORTION OF SUCH A BELT WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SUCH A BELT, (C) OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BASE DEFINING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED GENERALLY ALIGNED RAIL ELEMENTS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SUCH A BELT, (D) EACH OF SAID BASES AT ONE END BEING FORMED TO DEFINE LATERALLY SPACED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDED FEET WHICH SLIDABLY UNDERLIE AND ENGAGE THE BASE OF THE ADJACENT TRAY AND FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY UNBROKEN UNDERSURFACE BETWEEN THE RAIL ELEMENTS THEREOF. 